In the crucial early weeks of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Chinese Communist Party systematically suppressed, misrepresented, and falsified information necessary to address and prevent what has become a global pandemic. China’s cover-up has caused tens of thousands of deaths in the United States and increased the national deficit nearly fourfold.

While I firmly believe that our determination and ingenuity will help us rebound, the pandemic has been devastating. Over 30 million people in the U.S. have lost their jobs, and families across the country are grieving the loss of their loved ones. So far, Congress has appropriated nearly $3 trillion to mitigate the social and economic costs of China’s intentional concealment of COVID-19, but we do not yet know the full cost. The emergency’s long-term effects on the U.S. cannot be overstated, and I believe that the Chinese Communist Party must pay for the deadly impacts of its actions. The country deserves the compensation owed to them under international law.